Green Day postpone three shows and cancel fourth as punk band is struck by illness

Green Day have postponed the first three dates of their upcoming tour and cancelled a fourth show due to illness "affecting several members of the band and its crew".

The band announced on Sunday that concerts will be rescheduled in St Louis, Chicago and Detroit in the US, and a fourth concert in Toronto is being cancelled.

Green Day (Jason Miller/Invision/AP)

"We're so sad to announce we have to postpone three shows and cancel Toronto," said the band. "Many of us have been battling this infection for days on end to be ready, and it just got the best of us."

Tickets will be refunded, the band said.

GREEN DAY POSTPONE FIRST THREE DATES OF UPCOMING NORTH AMERICAN CLUB TOUR AND CANCEL TORONTO APPEARANCE: https://t.co/rhr6SZD4YX